All in the Family: These COS Businesses Have Withstood the Test of Time

Colorado Springs celebrated its sesquicentennial in 2021, which means people have been enjoying all the Pikes Peak Region has to offer for more than 150 years. And several of our local, family-owned businesses have been around for almost as long.

It’s not easy to operate a small business, let alone run it successfully for decades. What makes the Pikes Peak Region so special are the long-standing businesses that have provided locals and visitors with unforgettable experiences across generations. These families have seen their adaptability and resiliency challenged as they navigated through the unthinkable but never lost their hospitable spirits along the way.

Meet some of the faces behind these beloved long-term businesses and learn what it takes to keep a family-owned hospitality business open and successful across generations.

Austin Lawhorn, The North Pole – Santa’s Workshop

Business Type: Family-Friendly Attraction
Years in Operation: 66

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How do you keep people returning across generations?
It all boils down to the children. When times are tough and hard kids keep us balanced and centered. They know what’s important and that is family and memories. When adults remember their childhood and are able to relive those memories with their own children that truly is priceless. We have tried to maintain our vintage nostalgic feel throughout the years so that parents and grandparents can relieve these important moments with their own kids and I would guess about 70% of our guests have either visited as a child and now are bringing their kids and grandkids and that in and of itself makes a statement.

What makes you stay in the hospitality/tourism industry?
It feels like an honor to be a part of so many traditions and memories. We take it very seriously and we are often humbled by the stories we hear and we just are grateful that we can still be here 66 years later. Our connection with Christmas which is such a tradition rich event as well as vacations and generational memories – it just feels like a huge responsibility and one we are grateful for. It is so much work, but I don’t think we would have it any other way.

Becky Leinweber, Angler’s Covey

Business Type: Outfitter
Years in Operation: 40

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What does it take to keep a family-owned hospitality business open and successful for so many years?
More generations! For it to remain a family business, there has to be more than just one person in the family interested in making it a success. In our situation, both David and I have worked many roles and positions over the years, and so have both of our children. Now, our daughter is our General Manager, and taking on more and more responsibility and has begun the transition to running it completely in the future. Our business model is based on core values that are integral to both our family and our business and make sense to our customer base and we all work hard to authentically live them out.

Why is Colorado Springs/the Pikes Peak Region a special place to run a business?
Colorado Springs is a big, small town in so many ways and it’s a great place to grow a small family business. It is an iconic destination that draws people from around the world. Within an hour, we can share so many bucket-list experiences with people from fishing on Pikes Peak America’s Mountain to fishing the gold medal waters on the South Platte. The community is welcoming, collaborative, and supportive of small businesses like ours and we have never looked to move our family or our business elsewhere!

Dave Harris, Ghost Town Museum

Business Type: Museum
Years in Operation: 68

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What does it take to keep a family-owned hospitality business open and successful for so many years?
Running a “family” business successfully takes the whole family in our case. As the third generation operating Ghost Town Museum, every single member of all three generations has had some role to play in its operations. All have been employed here. We have a culture as small business entrepreneurs who luckily happened into the hospitality industry.

What are some of the major challenges you’ve faced as a business, and how have you navigated those over the decades?
My personal analogy for operating a business in tourism is that it is similar to farming. There are so many things out of your control that dictate the success or failure of a season; floods, fires, hail storms, gas prices, recession, politics, pandemics. You just have to be prepared to ride them out and wait for the next season and try again. In the end, if you are patient, careful with your resources and keep a positive attitude, you will be rewarded with the good seasons.

Sallie Clark, Holden House 1902 Bed & Breakfast Inn

Business Type: Lodging
Years in Operation: 36

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What are some favorite stories of people returning or bringing the next generation to your business?
In the last few years since the pandemic began, we have noticed an increase in return guests. They have shared with us that staying at a “known” property was a more comfortable choice during a time of health concerns. And, we have noticed that our previous guests, are now sending their kids and grandkids for stays to experience Holden House for the first time. Just last month, we accommodated couples who stayed with us on their honeymoons and were returning for their 20th to 30th anniversaries! We also have one older couple who return approximately every three to six months, and their children purchase gift certificates for them each year, knowing that it’s their parents favorite place to stay in Colorado Springs. The benefit is two-fold: the kids give a gift to mom and dad they know they will like and second, we have the benefit of having return guests who love to stay at Holden House.

What makes you stay in the hospitality industry?
We believe that hospitality has to be in your blood to continue enjoyment of the work you do for over three decades. We love sharing the history of the house, the renovations, and seeing the smiles on the faces of our guests when they sit at the breakfast table or head out for the day. It’s said that if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life and the bed and breakfast industry is an incredibly rewarding industry we feel fortunate to be a part of extending hospitality to visitors.

Dieter Schnakenberg, Edelweiss

Business Type: Restaurant
Years in Operation: 55

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What makes you stay in the hospitality industry?
There are no two days alike. Every day there are new challenges and opportunities. You have to be a problem solver, entertainer, therapist and leader. There are days it takes everything out of me, but there are other days it is so rewarding to see the place flourish and the customers so happy.

Why is Colorado Springs/the Pikes Peak Region a special place? What about it helps strengthen your business and keep the doors open?
We love the mountains, it is a large city but still has a special small town feeling. We love the daily sunshine and beautiful weather (we open the patio every chance we get). Tourism allows us to be successful, but it’s the locals that recommend us and frequent us that keep us going all year long. We believe in being part of the community.